Chris Christie and Donald Trump. REUTERS/Scott Audette Speculation over whom Donald Trump might select as his running mate in the 2016 presidential race has reached a fever pitch as only a couple of weeks remain until this summer's GOP convention.

The Manhattan billionaire, who is now the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party, told the Associated Press in May that he was down to a list of "five or six people."

Trump dropped some hints earlier this year that he would look for someone with experience in government, as opposed to an outsider like himself.

"I would want somebody that could help me with government, so most likely that would be a political person," the real-estate mogul has said.

"You want somebody that can help you with legislation, getting it through," he added.

Trump launched his White House campaign last summer with almost no support from the type of politicians who would fit the description of the word.

After dominating the race month after month, Trump finally started securing endorsements from governors and members of Congress whom he could consider for his administration. Now, as the presumptive nominee, he has a lengthy list of potential fits to consider.

Here are a few of the politicians Trump might look to as vice president.

1/

Mike Pence

AP

NBC News reported Friday that Pence, the Indiana governor who is locked in a reelection battle, is meeting with Trump this weekend. Sources told the outlet that Pence was being formally vetted for consideration to be the Manhattan billionaire's running mate.

Later Friday, CNN's Jim Acosta tweeted that Pence was on Trump's short list, per a senior campaign adviser.

Pence was once considered a strong candidate to seek the presidency in 2016, but he chose not to run. He would give Trump credibility with social and movement conservatives and could help him gain an edge in what could be a close race in Indiana and throughout the Rust Belt — a stretch in which Trump must perform well.

2/

Jeff Sessions

AP Photo/John Bazemore

Sessions, of Alabama, was the first sitting senator to endorse Trump — and he has already been tapped to lead Trump's national-security advisory committee.

"A movement is afoot that must not fade away," Sessions said during the Alabama rally where he announced his support earlier this year.

Sessions is one of the staunchest supporters of Trump's hard-line plan to crack down on illegal immigration. The senator could also give Trump credibility in the South.

The longtime Alabama senator said it would be an "honor" to be selected as Trump's vice president, but he also said it "sure won't be me."

Acosta tweeted Friday that Sessions was also on that short list.

3/

John Thune

AP Photo/Molly Riley

Acosta named Thune, a South Dakota senator, as one of the remaining options on Trump's short list Friday.

In June, Thune told NBC News: "I have no clue about what their process is. I don't have any reason to think I'm in that mix."

Thune is the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.

He said he's open to being contacted by the Trump campaign.

"Well, I think you always take the call," he said. "It would be rude [not to], you know. In South Dakota, we're not rude."

4/

Chris Christie

REUTERS/Scott Audette

Christie, the New Jersey governor, was Trump's first primary rival to endorse him after leaving the race.

Christie could help Trump with more moderate GOP voters, and he certainly has the bombastic personality that would serve as a useful surrogate for Trump, though the two also fiercely criticized each other when they were both candidates in the race.

Trump previously told the Associated Press that Christie was on his short list of remaining contenders for his running mate, to which Christie responded that being on a short list "doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot."

Acosta confirmed that Christie was on the Trump short list. The Associated Press also reported Friday morning that Christie was being vetted for the role.

Mike Huckabee

In March, BuzzFeed reported that advisers close to Huckabee thought the vice-presidential nod was potentially in the cards.

Of all the former 2016 White House contenders, Huckabee may be closest to Trump ideologically. Huckabee has struck a populist tone on cultural issues and, like Trump, vowed to protect Social Security and Medicare if elected.

"I don't have any interest in anything unless he were to say he was interested," Huckabee said. "And I have no idea. He's never said anything to me about it. Fact is, I'm moving on with my life."

6/

Newt Gingrich

AP

Gingrich, the former House speaker, could provide Trump with exactly what he is looking for in a running mate — an experienced lawmaker who pushed legislation through Congress for years.

Gingrich has come to Trump's defense regarding both the establishment backlash to his candidacy and the controversy the presumptive nominee found himself in after initially failing in a CNN interview to disavow support from former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.

Gingrich has not been shy about angling for the job, repeatedly expressing interest.

"You should never turn down an opportunity until it shows up," Gingrich said in May, according to the Chicago Tribune, later adding, "Why would I want to say 'no' to the circus? I like circuses."

Gingrich was on Acosta's Friday list.

Rep. David Brat of Virginia told Business Insider in an interview last week that he thought Trump would pick Gingrich.

He added that Gingrich would be the best pick because of his "dynamism."

"There's a bunch of other strong candidates, but he's got a dynamism," the Virginia Republican, who is backing Trump, told Business Insider while on a tour to promote his new book, "American Underdog."

He added: "Trump's a strong figure — he needs another strong figure who can go back and forth credibly."

Though Brat stressed that he didn't have any "inside" information on whether Gingrich would get the nod, he said, "It'd be my guess right now."

"I want to help and not hurt, and I am such a realist that I realize there are a whole lot of people out there who would say, 'Anybody but Palin.' I wouldn't want to be a burden on the ticket, and I realize in many, many eyes, I would be that burden.

"So, you know, I just — I just want the guy to win. I want America to win. And I don't know if I would be the person that would be able to help him win, Jake."

Palin introduced Trump during a Friday speech at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver.

8/

Bob Corker

Bob Corker.
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

Corker, a Tennessee senator, has seemed fairly interested in serving as Trump's running mate. His name has come up in conversations among GOP insiders — who, per Politico, believe he would be an attractive choice for the job.

"I think all of us here in public service look at the best way that we can have an impact on our country and then make decisions once they understand whether there's different route for being able to serve," he told NBC News. "But the fact is that today I have no reason to believe I'm being considered."

Corker, who has been in the Senate for nearly a decade, has a business background and is the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Corker was on Acosta's Friday list, though he has grown increasingly critical of Trump in recent weeks.

9/

Jan Brewer

Jan Brewer.
AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

The former Arizona governor has evident interest in being Trump's vice president. And it could be a good fit.